NYT: Donor To Rangel Center Got Tax Help

A report in the New York Times today said embattled Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), Ways and Means Committee chairman, met with Eugene M. Isenberg, CEO of Nabors Industries, an oil-drilling company, "while at the same time its chief executive was pledging $1 million to the project, the Charles B. Rangel School of Public Service" at City College of New York.

According to the NYT, "while the issue was before his committee, Mr. Rangel met with Mr. Isenberg and a lobbyist for Nabors and discussed it, on the same morning that the congressman and Mr. Isenberg met to talk about the chief executive’s potential support for the Rangel center."

Rangel and Isenberg say there is no link between the donation and Rangel's help in protecting a tax break for Nabors, which saved the company millions of dollars, but this new revelation will likely renew GOP efforts to force Rangel out as Ways and Means chairman. Rangel already faces a House ethics committee for his efforts on behalf of the Rangel Center, as well as other questions over his personal finances. Rangel used congressional stationary in fundraising solicitations to potential donors for the Rangel Center.